Monogram unit



Nov. 17, 1936. Hl KRAEMER 2,061,428

MONOGRAM UNIT Filed oct.v 29, 1955 Patented Nov. 17, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT @FEE Brier Manufacturing Company,

Providence,

R. I., a corporation of Rhode Island Application October 29. 1935, Serial No. 47,293

10 Claims.

This invention relates to articles of jewelry or the like and more particularly to improvements. in monogram units for use on bracelets, as brooches and pendants or for ornamenting other articles such as hand bags, traveling bags, shoe buckles or the like.

One of the objects oi the present invention is to provide a monogram unit of the type indicated including a frame adapted to mount initials or other character elements which may be easily and quickly snapped into position on the frame.

Another object of the invention is to provide a monogram unit of the type indicated including a frame or holder having a marginal front adapted to yield and snap over the outer edges of character elements to engage therewith as the elements are pressed from the rear of the frame toward the plate.

Another object of the invention is to provide a monogram unit of the type indicated of simple and compact structure, pleasing and ornamental appearance, and one which may be economically manufactured with a minimum of mechanical operations.

Further objects of the improvement are set forth in the following specification which describes a preferred form of construction of the invention, by way of example, as illustrated by the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the monogram unit forming the subject-matter of the present invention, show- 35 ing it suspended as a pendant;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged rear elevational view of the unit showing the relationship ofthe cooperating parts on the supporting frame andzcharacter elements when the latter are mounted in position on the frame;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional View taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2 showing the interlocking parts for holding the elements against lateral movement on the frame;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal Sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2 showing the holding means on the frame engaging the opposite sides of the end portions of the elements; 50 Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 2 showing the oiset relationship of the end portions of the elements which form shoulders for engaging the edges of the marginal front plate of the frame;

Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 5 showing the plate and resilient flan-ge at the rear thereof (Cl. l0-140) manner of mounting the character elements in position on the frame;

Fig. 7 is a` detail perspective view of the rear of the supporting frame showing one of the retaining flanges;

Fig. 8 is a perspective View of the frame simi- 5 lar to Fig. 7 but viewed from the opposite direction to show the opposite retaining flange in detail; and

Fig. 9 is a detailed perspective View of one form of character element adapted for application to the frame.

The present invention comprises generally a frame or holder having a marginal front plate portion with retaining flanges extending at an angle to the rearward face of the plate portion and terminating in spaced relation thereto. Character elements such as initial letters having projecting end portions are mounted on the frame by pressing them into position from the rear to seat their end portions against the back of the front plate while engaging them under the edges of the retaining flanges. During this movement the resilient retaining flange at the bottom of the frame yields and snaps over the edge of the end portions of the elements and into engagement therewith. Preferably, the end portions of the elements are offset with respect to their body portions to provide shoulders for engaging the inner lateral edges of the frame and are provided with lugs for cooperation with slots in the flanges to hold the elements against lateral movement on the frame.

Referring to the drawing, the frame I0 is herein illustrated as having a front plate or marginal portion II of rectangular contour with a correspondingly shaped opening I2. At its outer edge the frame I0 has a marginal rim I3 extending rearwardly from the plate II. Resilient retaining anges I4 and I 5 extend from the rim at the top and bottom of the frame inwardly and then forwardly at substantially right-angles to the rearward face of the plate II, said flanges being formed by bent-over extensions of the rim. The terminal edges of the flanges I4 and I5 are spaced 45 from the plate II and have a series of opposed slots I6 and' I'I arranged in spaced relation longitudinally of the frame. lAs illustrated in the drawing the slots It in the top flange I4 are shallow while the slots Il in the bottom ange I5 extend through the forwardlyand inwardlydirected portions thereof and intoa portion of the marginal rim I3 to divi-de the flange I5 into laterally-positioned spring-fingers.

Preferably, the frame I@ is constructed from a single plate of suitable sheet material such as metal, celluloid or the like with its central portion cut out to form the opening I2. The frame I may take any other configuration and be ornamented by embossing its front plate or wall by a stamping operation. The edge portions of the front plate I i are folded rearwardly, inwardly and forwardly to form the marginal rim I 3 and retaining flanges Il and l5; opposite folded over side flanges I8 cooperating with the flanges I4 and I5 to give a finished appearance to the frame with mitered joints at the corners. The marginal rim I3 at the top of the frame I0 may be slitted and struck up as at i9 to provide a bail for attaching the frame to a chain 20 when the monogram unit is to be used as a pendant. The frame I@ is herein shown as of rectangular contour with its front wall ornamented by an embossed rib 2I but it is to be understood that the frame may be otherwise suitably ornamented or embellished by engraving, enameling or setting it with jewels.

The character elements to be mounted in the frame may have any suitable contour or outline and as herein illustrated are in the form of initial letters. The character elements are preferably punched from sheet stock and as herein shown each has a body portion 25 cut in the outline of a letter with projecting end portions 25 and 21, see Fig. 9. The end portions 25 and 21 of the characters are preferably offset with respect to their body portions to form shoulders 28 and 29 and the main portions of the characters may be curved or arched throughout their length to add to their artistic appearance, see Fig. 6. The end portions 25 and 21 extend laterally throughout substantially the width of the body portion of each character and have centrally-positioned upset ribs or lugs 3G and 3l which project from their rearward faces. The lugs 3D and 3I extend slightly beyond the ends of the elements for a purpose as will later appear.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the character elements 25 are adapted to be mounted in the frame IG with the shoulders 23 and 29 engaging the opposite marginal edges of the front plate I I at the opening I2 and with their end portions 26 and 21 overlying the rearward face of the plate on opposite sides of the opening. When so positioned the terminal edges of the retaining flanges I4 and I5 overlie and engage the rearward faces of the end portions 26 and 21 adjacent their outer edges to positively hold the elements 25 in the frame. The rearwardly-projecting lugs 3U and 3l engage the slots I6 and I1 in the opposite flanges I4 and I5 and hold the elements 25 in spaced relation in the frame. The engagement of the shoulders 28 and 29 with the edges of the front plate I I at the opening I2 prevents lengthwise movement of the elements 25 so that the latter are held against any movement in the frame after they have been mounted in their proper position.

As different purchasers of monogram units usually require different combinations of initials these elements must be set in the frame at the time of a purchase. rIhe present improved construction of the frame ID and character elements 25 facilitates the operation of assembling characters on the frame while requiring a minimum of time and practically no skill or expertness. To apply an element 25 to the frame I its end portion 25 is inserted under the terminal edge of the top flange Iffi at the rear of the plate II with its projecting lug 30 in engagement with one of the shallow slots I5, see Fig. 6. The opposite or bottom en-d of the element is then carried down toward the frame with its lug 3l in register with the slot I1 in the bottom ange I5. The end portion 21 of the element 25 is neXt pressed into the frame I0 to engage its forward side with the rearward face of the plate II. During this operation the edge of the end portion 21 bears against and slides over the face of the flange I5 causing the latter to yield or spring toward the rim I3. After the end portion 21 of the element 25 passes by the terminal edge of the flange I5 the latter snaps back over the rearward side thereof due to the inherent resiliency of the flange. The shoulders 28 and 29 of the element 25 will then abut the edges of the plate II at the opening I2 and the lugs 3) and 3| will engage in the slots I6 and I1 to hold the elements against lateral movement in the frame. A purchaser may select the initials or other characters 25 which he desires to be mounted in the frame I and these may be quickly inserted in place with their ends held under the top and bottom flanges I and I5 and with the lugs 3|] and 3| engaging the spaced slots I6 and I'I to properly position the character elements in spaced relation.

The invention having now been explained it will be observed that a monogram unit is provided which facilitates the mounting of character elements in a supporting frame or holder by merely pressing them laterally thereinto.

It will further be observed that the character elements when so mounted in the frame are held against longitudinal movement by the engagement of their opposite shoulders with the edges of the plate at the opening, against transverse movement by the engagement of their projecting lugs with the slots in the flanges, and prevented from bodily movement out of the frame by the engagement of the plate and terminal edges of the flanges with the opposite sides of their end portions.

It will still further be observed that the structure of the present device is very simple and compact and lending to economical manufacture.

While the device is herein shown and described as embodied in a preferred form of construction, it will be understood that various modifications may be made in the form, shape and arrangement of the parts thereof without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. The frame may take shapes other than that illustrated in the drawing, the retaining flanges may be so slotted that both ends of the character elements can be pressed into the frame, and the retaining flanges may be arranged to yield sidewise instead of longitudinally of the elements as shown. Therefore, without limitation in this respect, I claim:

1. An article of' the type indicated comprising a frame having an opening therein, character elements in the opening having end portions abutting the side of the frame, means on said frame engaging the opposite sides of the end portions of the elements to hold the latter in the frame, said holding means yielding in a direction longitudinally of the elements to permit the ends of the latter to be snapped into the frame, and interlocking parts on said holding means and end portions of said elements to restrain the latter against movement longitudinally of the frame.

2. An article of the type indicated comprising a frame having an opening therein, character elements in the `opening having offset end portions abutting the side of the frame and forming intermediate shoulders engaging the edges of the frame at the opening, holding means on the frame engaging the opposite sides of the end portions of said elements and yielding to permit the elements to be mounted in the frame by pressing them laterally with respect to the plane of the frame, and interlocking parts on said holding means and the end portions of said elements whereby the elements are held against sidewise movement in the frame.

3. An article of the type indicated comprising a frame having a front plate, a character element having end portions engaging the plate, and a resilient ange on the frameat the rear of the plate adapted to yield and snap over the edge of the end portion of the character element to engage its side as the element is pressed into the frame from the rear and toward the front plate.

4. An article of the type indicated comprising a frame having a front plate with an opening therein, character elements in the opening having projecting end portions overlying the plate, and a flange on the frame at the rear of the plate extending forwardly to engage its edge with the opposite side of the end portions of the elements, said flange having slots arranged in spaced relationship, said flange adapted to yield to permit the end portions of the elements to be snapped into position as they are pressed toward the plate, and lugs on the end portions of the elements engagng the slots inl the flange to hold the elements in spaced relation.

5. A device of the type indicated comprising a frame having a front portion with resilient flanges on the rearward side thereof extending forwardly toward the front of the frame, and character elements having their end portions engaged on opposite sides by the front portion of the frame and the edges of the flanges, the forwardly-directed portions of said flanges being spaced a distance apart slightly less than the length of the elements and adapted to yield to snap over the edges of the end portions of the elements to engage the side thereof as the elements are pressed forwardly from the rear of the frame.

6. An article of the type indicated comprising a plate having rim portions folded rearwardly, inwardly and then forwardly to form resilient flanges with their edges terminating in spaced relation to the plate, and character elements having their end portions held between the plate and terminal edges of the flanges, said elements being slightly longer than the distance between the forwardly-directed portions of the anges which are adapted to yield as the elements are pressed laterally into position in the frame.

'7. A frame in which character elements are adapted to be mounted comprising a front portion having an opening therein and resilient marginal iianges on the top and bottom of the frame overlying the rearward face of the latter, said resilient anges being adapted to yield laterally to permit the elements to be snapped into place between the edges of the flanges and the rearward face of the frame. l

8. A frame for holding character elements comprising a front portion having an opening therein and flanges on the top and bottom of the frame extending inwardly and forwardly to overlie the rearward face thereof with their edges terminating in spaced relation thereto, the edges of said flanges having slots formed therein.

9. An article of jewelry comprising a frame having a front plate with an opening therein, individual character elements extending across the Opening with their end portions abutting the rearward face of the plate, and a ange on the frame curled around to overlie the rearward face of the front plate in spaced relation theretoand adapted to yield to cause it to snapv over the end portions of the character elements as the latter are pressed into abutting engagement with the front plate, said flange engaging the end portions of the character elements opposite the plate and cooperating therewith to hold them in the frame.

10. An article of jewelry comprising a frame having a front plate with an opening therein, character elements extending across the opening, said character elements having offset end portions abutting the rearward face of the front plate and forming intermediate shoulders engaging the edges thereof at the opening therein, and resilient holding means on the frame arranged in spaced relation to the rearward face of the plate and adapted to yield and snap over the end portions of the character elements as the latter are pressed into abutting engagement with the plate, said resilient means engaging the rearward faces of the end portions of the character elements and cooperating with the plate to hold them in position in the frame.

JU'LIUS I-l'. KRAEMER. 

